FOR the sake of balance and cool heads, let's try and wrap the garda rape joke controversy in as much benevolent spin as possible.

Excerpts from the as the yet-to-be authenticated, inadvertent recording of a conversation in a garda car include "we'll get immigration f***ing on her", and "she was living down at crusty camp, f**k sake, you never know what you might get".

Please sign in or register with Independent.ie for free access to Opinions.